McCalman's Wild Knights in Top league title fight

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15-01-16, 16:20
The InnFORCEr

McCalman's Wild Knights in Top league title fight

1/15/2016
By Beth Newman

Wallabies backrower Ben McCalman will vie for a Top league grand final spot this weekend, with the Panasonic Wild Knights.

The back-to-back Top League champions will face the Kobelco Steelers for a spot in the title game after an undefeated pool stage.

McCalman will come off the bench for the Wild Knights, in his first season with the team.

His Aussie teammate, flyhalf Berrick Barnes, will miss his second match in a row after sitting out the team’s quarter-final with a groin injury.

Barnes has been one of the Wild Knights’ best in recent seasons, steering the side around at 10.

The Wallabies pair are the only still in the major playoffs, with a number of other Aussies in the relegation dogfight.

In the bottom half of the play-off equation, Digby Ioane’s Honda Heat take on the Andy Friend-coached Suntory on Saturday.

The Heat and Sungoliaths won in the first weekend of playoffs, keeping them out of relegation danger for 2015-16.

Ioane will come off the bench for the Heat as the two sides face off for a shot at ninth spot overall.

Bernard Foley will again start at flyhalf for the Ricoh Black Rams as they face the NEC Green Rockets.

Capped Wallaby Sam Norton-Knight will line up in the opposite 10 jumper, starting for NEC in the match.

The Black Rams are yet to win a match this season, with eight games played, while the Green Rockets have managed one win from their efforts.

Newly signed Aussie Sevens player, Nick Cummins, will come off the bench for the Coca-Cola West Red Sparks in their game against the NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes.

Mark Gerrard will start at flyhalf for the Toyota Industries Shuttles against the Kubota Spears in their play-off match on Saturday afternoon.

Gerrard scored a try in the Shuttles’ opening playoff win against the Black Rams a victory that kept them away from the relegation zone.

http://www.rugby.com.au/News/NewsArt...tle-fight.aspx
16-01-16, 19:29
maelkann

Panasonic made it through, 42-10, after a very conservative first half where the Steelers had most of the possession though failed to convert it efficiently into points.

Benny Mac got 6 minutes (came on in the 75th), made a few big hits and was awarded a penalty in front of the sticks after the tackled player failed to release to finish the game.
18-01-16, 08:25
choice

Saw a bit off it on Foxtel, no wonder they come back refreshed. They hardly break into a sweat.
18-01-16, 10:20
Sheikh

Quote:

Originally Posted by choice

Saw a bit off it on Foxtel, no wonder they come back refreshed. They hardly break into a sweat.

You say that (well, type it) but Cummins didn't come back looking refreshed, he came back looking distinctly off-the-boil
18-01-16, 14:01
SNOB

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheikh

You say that (well, type it) but Cummins didn't come back looking refreshed, he came back looking distinctly off-the-boil

Ben only played for about 5 mins! Not sure how much he's played in other games though.
Last year HB seemed to spend more time on the bench than on the park.
18-01-16, 14:45
beige

Pretty sure they only allow two foreigners on the field at any one time.
18-01-16, 15:18
The InnFORCEr

Not sure which match is Big Dogs but there are two Japan Top League games this coming weekend on Fox (Eurosport Channel) 1.00 - 2.45 on Saturday and 10.00 - 11.45am on Sunday :approve:
18-01-16, 15:23
wholetruth

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheikh

You say that (well, type it) but Cummins didn't come back looking refreshed, he came back looking distinctly off-the-boil

He was injured
18-01-16, 15:23
wholetruth

Quote:

Originally Posted by beige

Pretty sure they only allow two foreigners on the field at any one time.

Correct
24-01-16, 14:47
maelkann

Well, in a 27-26 nailbiting finish, Ben gets something for the pool room...
24-01-16, 20:12
Alison

Saw a tweet from Tess that made it sound like Ben won't be back in Perth until May. Could that be right???!
24-01-16, 20:52
GAFFA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alison

Saw a tweet from Tess that made it sound like Ben won't be back in Perth until May. Could that be right???!

I think he is referring to Yamada the ex force squad member and Ben Mac Japanese team mate. The force are playing the sunwolves in May.
25-01-16, 08:30
The InnFORCEr

'Dingo' Deans win third Japanese title

AAP
January 25, 2016, 7:50 am

South African Francois Steyn missed a post-siren conversion attempt, giving the Wild Knights a historic 27-26 victory over his Toshiba Brave Lupus on Sunday.

Shohei Toyoshima's try 90 seconds after the final hooter gave Toshiba hope of their sixth title but Steyn sent the conversion right of the posts.

The miss triggered celebrations in the rival camp which included Australian players Ben McCalman and Berrick Barnes.

"What can you say? What a great conclusion to a great season of rugby in Japan," Deans told Kyodo news agency at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground.

"That had everything that makes the game what it is. A good contest up front. A tough contest at the breakdown and both teams risking their hand.

"Obviously the emotion would be very different if the kick had been successful at the death, but looking at the weight of the season and the weight of the encounter we probably warranted the outcome."

Deans parted ways with the Wallabies in 2013, joining the Wild Knights a year later and has been linked with several international coaching jobs since.

He is the first coach in the Top League to win silverware three years in a row.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sp...apanese-title/